Wednesday, September 25

Russia’s war against Ukraine

Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv in Kharkiv Oblast on Sept. 24, 2024, resulting in damages of several buildings and casualties among civilians. (Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov / Telegram)

Invitation to NATO part of Ukraine’s victory plan, Yermak confirms. An invitation to join NATO is part of Ukraine’s “victory plan,” head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said during a visit to the U.S. on Sept. 24.

Around 60% of foreign parts in Russian weapons come via China, Ukraine says. “If you take all the usual types of weapons and count the foreign made components – about 60% would be coming from China,” Vladyslav Vlasiuk, an adviser to Ukraine’s Presidential Office, said on Sept. 24.

Russia surveilling Ukrainian nuclear facilities with Chinese satellites for possible future strikes, Zelensky says. “In our experience, if Russia takes photos of certain objects, then there is a threat of strikes against the nuclear objects,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Russian troops constantly storming Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, situation ‘steadily tense,’ Ukraine’s military says. Russian forces are continuously storming the town of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast, with the situation remaining “steadily tense,” an infantry commander of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade, known as “Oscar,” told Suspilne on Sept. 24.

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Russia to maintain record high defense spending in 2025, Bloomberg reports. NATO countries have set a goal to spend 2 percent of the country’s GDP on defense in 2024. Russia is spending around 6 percent.

Ukraine regains control of Vovchansk aggregate plant, military intelligence says. HUR Chief Kyrylo Budanov was briefed on the “successful completion of the operation” earlier in the day, the agency said in a statement, adding the “extremely difficult” attack was carried out by HUR special forces.

Zelensky’s ‘victory plan’ contains ‘no surprises,’ Bloomberg reports. Western officials do not see a “breakthrough” in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan,” which he is presenting this week in New York, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 24, citing undisclosed sources.

Small percentage of artillery shells from Czech-led initiative malfunction. A few issues have been reported with some of the artillery shells received through the Czech initiative, according to German publication Handelsblatt, which cited a letter from Kyiv to Prague.

Read our exclusives

From Ukraine to a galaxy far away: How Ukrainian AI-voice company Respeecher became the go-to for Hollywood

Alex Serdiuk, CEO of Kyiv-based AI voice company Respeecher, is proud that his team has remained in Ukraine, despite investors unhappy with Respeecher being located outside Hollywood.

But they did not lose any clients at the start of the full-scale invasion and even managed to stick to deadlines while missiles rained down across the country.

Photo: Respeecher/Getty Images

Ukraine war latest: Fighting for Vovchansk continues, Kyiv restores control over aggregate plant

Ukrainian forces recaptured an aggregate plant in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) reported on Sept. 24.

Photo: Ukraine’s intelligence military/Telegram

Russian troops aim to encircle Vuhledar, Ukraine’s last fortress in southern Donbas

The long-embattled town of Vuhledar, key to Ukrainian defenses in the southeastern part of Donetsk Oblast, is under threat of encirclement and is being “razed to the ground,” according to reports on Sept. 24.

Photo: Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images

Human cost of war

Russia attacks Kharkiv’s densely populated districts, killing 3, injuring 34. Russia bombarded the city with guided aerial bombs, targeting densely populated districts, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported.

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 4, injure 39 over past day. Ukrainian forces downed 66 out of 81 Shahed-type drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Russian strike on Zaporizhzhia kills 1, injures 7, including children. The strike targeted a critical infrastructure facility and a residential neighborhood, killing one man and injuring seven people, including children. Some of the victims have been hospitalized, city authorities reported.

General Staff: Russia has lost 645,150 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,400 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

International response

UK’s Lammy aims to secure strongest support for Ukraine. U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said on Sept. 24 that he is working to ensure Ukraine is in the “strongest position” in its war against Russia ahead of the winter months.

Trump vows to ‘get America out’ of Ukraine war, blames Biden for conflict. At a rally in Atlanta on Sept. 24, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump criticized America’s involvement in the war in Ukraine, saying the country is “stuck” and will only be able to “get out” if he wins the election.

Zelensky, Modi discuss strengthening cooperation in New York. The two discussed trade, economic and defense cooperation, India’s involvement in Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, and collaboration in educational, scientific, and cultural initiatives, according to Zelensky’s office.

Blocking Ukraine’s EU accession over Volyn massacre in line with Putin’s policy, Poland’s Duda says. “If someone says in this regard that they are going to block Ukraine’s access to the European Union, they are following Vladimir Putin’s policy. I don’t know if this is the intention of those who are now in power,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said.

‘Temporary’ occupation of Ukrainian territory most likely outcome of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Czech president says. “To talk about a defeat of Ukraine or defeat of Russia, it will simply not happen. So the end will be somewhere in between,” Czech President Petr Pavel told The New York Times.

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